The Syrians have demonstrated what they see as an appropriate way to confront opponents of the occupation.
Mass arrests of anti-Syrian activists were carried out by Syrian and Lebanese security forces over the course of the last few days throughout Lebanon, according to a Christian Lebanese television station. The station broadcast pictures of over one hundred persons being loaded into trucks by Lebanese soldiers. Growing calls for Syrian withdrawl from occupied Lebanon have appeared througout the country of late, but particularly among the Christian community. The Lebanese authorities, meanwhile, charged that those arrested were involved in ?unauthorized meetings.?
The Future Television network, which belongs to Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, reported that approximately 40 members of the opposition Lebanese Forces Christian militia and the supporters of exiled Christian General Michel Aoun have been arrested. A Lebanese army statement said that those arrested "?have used the climate of freedom to abuse the highest authorities in a way that contrasts the ethics of political conduct." The army said that it was particularly unethical at this time ??when Palestinians are suffering enormously at the hands of the Israelis." The army command stated that it was ??taking all the necessary legal proceedings to correct the situation." In a loosely veiled threat, the statement said that helicopters would be flying over the area between Beirut and the Christian town of Jounieh in the south.
In reaction to the arrests, Druse opposition leader Walid Jumblatt, speaking at a televised press conference in Beirut, asked, ?Who runs this country?? He referred to the arrests as ?stupid? and called on those responsible for the decision to be sacked. Jumblatt said the arrests were meant to sabotage the "historical national reconciliation" symbolized by the weekend tour of the Druse Shouf mountains by Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir.
Mass arrests of anti-Syrian activists were carried out by Syrian and Lebanese security forces over the course of the last few days throughout Lebanon, according to a Christian Lebanese television station. The station broadcast pictures of over one hundred persons being loaded into trucks by Lebanese soldiers. Growing calls for Syrian withdrawl from occupied Lebanon have appeared througout the country of late, but particularly among the Christian community. The Lebanese authorities, meanwhile, charged that those arrested were involved in ?unauthorized meetings.?
The Future Television network, which belongs to Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, reported that approximately 40 members of the opposition Lebanese Forces Christian militia and the supporters of exiled Christian General Michel Aoun have been arrested. A Lebanese army statement said that those arrested "?have used the climate of freedom to abuse the highest authorities in a way that contrasts the ethics of political conduct." The army said that it was particularly unethical at this time ??when Palestinians are suffering enormously at the hands of the Israelis." The army command stated that it was ??taking all the necessary legal proceedings to correct the situation." In a loosely veiled threat, the statement said that helicopters would be flying over the area between Beirut and the Christian town of Jounieh in the south.
In reaction to the arrests, Druse opposition leader Walid Jumblatt, speaking at a televised press conference in Beirut, asked, ?Who runs this country?? He referred to the arrests as ?stupid? and called on those responsible for the decision to be sacked. Jumblatt said the arrests were meant to sabotage the "historical national reconciliation" symbolized by the weekend tour of the Druse Shouf mountains by Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir.